Filaret Scriban

Filaret Scriban was an outstanding personality of the 19th century Moldova. Born inBurdujeni, Suceava, in 1811, he devoted his entire life to the Church and to his country. After a roughchildhood, he became a student at the Vasilian School and at Academia Mih ilean in Ia i. When hewas still a student, he started his teaching career, which would be a long and successful one. Heaccomplished his education in Russia, where he also became a monk, raised to the rank ofarchimandrite two years later. As a rector and teacher at the Socola Seminary, he reorganizedtheological education in Moldova, by increasing the number of classes, by introducing new schoolsubjects and by writing textbooks for church schools and seminaries. He wrote many books, whichwere either published or remained in manuscripts and he made translations from Russian and French.He was also a mentor who encouraged young capable men to accomplish their education abroad. Hewas a professor at the Faculty of Theology in Ia i, as well. Not only did Filaret Scriban serve theChurch, but he also supported the Union of the Romanian Provinces and he was elected deputy in theAd-hoc Council, bringing his contribution to the church reform. A few years later, he was elected Ia isenator. Filaret Scriban joined his brother, Neofit, in the fight for canonicity. It is important tomention his role of church founder, as Filaret Scriban was one of the few bishops who founded achurch in his native village while being a seminary rector. His church in Burdujeni is the place wherehe was buried at his death, in 1873. Filaret Scriban was an active scholar and patriot, who had a say instrengthening the relationship between the Moldavian and the Russian Orthodox Church. He servedhis country and the Church with devotion and faith.